Friday, February 11, 2011

Knit & Stitch Show 2010

I was asked to exhibit at the "Knit & Stitch" show in the RDS, Dublin in October 2010.

It was an amazing opportunity and a great couple of days!

If you didn't get a chance to see it, here's what my space looked like...

The fabulously named sign that hung over my space

I've always wanted to see my name in lights, but this will certainly do for now!!

My space was a corner unit, which initially put me at a disadvantage as I only had two walls to work with; whereas my colleagues had three.

I think it actually worked to my advantage as my layout fit perfectly into the space, and I felt it's openness made it more inviting; it seemed to draw in the crowd who were walking in my direction.

As I had to travel from Limerick to Dublin with a car choc-o-block of art & materials, I had no room for table or chairs, (like the ones from my exhibition in Galway, which can be viewedhere)

I had to make do with this delightfully hideous one (pictured) that I rented at the venue.

View of wall #1

You may notice that the second piece in the "Goldilocks" series, "The Kiss: Goldie fell deeper and deeper in love," is missing. This is because it is currently on display in a gallery in York, along with two of my illustrations.

After New Designers, I had to dispose of my portfolio cradle due to luggage weight restrictions, so pictured in the bottom right corner is a makeshift one that I made from the frame of a laundry basket and some ribbon!

Close up of dress & the narrative symbols

I love the motifs drawn along the bottom of Goldie's dress as it tells the story in symbolic form.

I had the dress on display on a chair at my end of year exhibition, but felt it was possibly overlooked and needed more emphasis. So I decided to display it on the wall alongside the pieces, so as they are both narrating the story, but in different ways.

Wall #2

Here you can see the last two pieces in the series along with my hanging digital print samples / variations and my apron.

The newest additions to this body of work was the blouse I upcylced with my "Calorie Lace" to match the apron. Also, I took some samples out that I had hidden away in notebooks and hung them with some postcards along a 'girly' style washing line underneath the pieces.

View of the breakfast table

Here you can see a mock up of the three bear's breakfast table.

I had my postcards on display here, along with a new addition to this body of work: a plate of 'sweet treats.'

I had a little hand written note beside the plate during the exhibition, which read;

"Forget about the calories, have one on Goldie!"

This is also where my comment book was available for feedback; which I received a lot of, so a big thank you to all who took the time to sign it, I loved reading what you had to say.

It is very much appreciated and brought a smile to my face.

Close up of the porridge prints, apron & upcycled blouse

Close up of framed drawings on hanger:

Framed here you can see copies of illustrations from my sketch books and hanging from this is my "Porridge Bowl" print, in different colour ways & sizes.

(Small - Baby bear, Medium - Momma Bear, Large - Poppa Bear)

Close up of hanging digitally printed illustration samples:

I wanted to show how my illustrations looked when transferred to fabric by a different medium, digital print, and accompanied with stitch.

I felt it was important to dig these out of my notebooks and put more emphasis on them, as this is the direction I'm hoping my next fairytale in the "Once Upon an Ever After" series, "Little Red" is going to go in.

Last but not least, the three bears made an appearance, it is Goldilocks after all!

About Me

I've just graduated with a BA Hons in Textile Design and have recently returned to college to study illustration.
I love book illustrations, Disney movies, castles, dead flowers and anything kind of creepy or with an eerie quality to it.
I am inspired by artists, illustrators & designers like Manet, Gustav Dore, Gris Grimly, Orly Cogan and Quentin Blake.
When I was little, I was known as the "arty one"; and christened myself, 'Keelinardo.'
I hope to set up my own business within the next year.